George Osborne MP

George Osborne said James Wharton would have the “full support” of the Conservative leadership when trying to pilot a private members’ bill legislating for an In/Out EU referendum through Parliament. “It’s great news that James Wharton h... Continue to article

George Osborne said Britain's system of financial regulation was robust enough to deal with concerns at the Co-operative Bank and elsewhere. “The Co-op have put out a statement last night about how they’re going to strengthen their capit... Continue to article

  George Osborne said the Government was "making progress" on economic recovery despite the "difficult situation" in the global economy.  "The phrase I use is ‘an encouraging sign’ that we’re making progress and the economy is healing... Continue to article

George Osborne said the remaining United Kingdom would probably not want to be part of a common currency area with an independent Scotland. “It’d be a real issue. Would we want to tie ourselves in a currency zone with a foreign governmen... Continue to article

George Osborne said the Government was getting the deficit down through taking “difficult decisions”. “The deficit is down by a third since the Government came to office and that’s because we’re taking the difficult decisions necessary t... Continue to article

Alex Salmond said George Osborne needed to grow up on the issue of Scottish independence.. "£40bn protection for the UK balance of payments he sees as a problem – most people see it as an asset. I’ve not seen any UK Chancellor for the la... Continue to article

George Osborne said the rest of the UK was “unlikely” to want to enter into a currency union with an independent Scotland. “It’s of course a decision for two governments – it wouldn’t just be the Scottish government, the newly-independen... Continue to article

Danny Alexander said rejecting independence and keeping the pound was “by far the best option” for Scotland’s economy. “What we conclude is that the current arrangements, where we’ve got the pound within one United Kingdom, it’s been a s... Continue to article

Alistair Darling said Labour should concentrate its fire on the Government rather than seeking to come up with alternatives now. "Firstly, I don’t think my colleagues responsible for the Labour party policy need to take a position till t... Continue to article

George Osborne said strikes would be a "self-inflicted wound" on Britain's economy. "These strikes would be a self inflicted wound on the economic recovery in Britain. They would be the last thing British public want. I think British pub... Continue to article

David Cameron said it was "completely wrong" to say Baroness Thatcher's funeral was being used for political ends by the Government. "I think that’s completely wrong and I’m not aware of anyone who’s said that. I think we can discount [A... Continue to article

George Osborne said he did not set out to be divisive when making comments about the welfare state and the Philpott case. "I tell you where I feel angry – I have to make a lot of very difficult decisions about public spending, and I have... Continue to article

Ed Balls launched a stinging attack on George Osborne over the Chancellors comments about Mick Philpott. "They’re seeing long-term unemployment rising and they’re instead taking an individual example, A terrible example of a nasty man, M... Continue to article

Norman Lamb said it was “ludicrous” and “ridiculous” to link the current situation in North Korea to the need to directly replace the Trident nuclear missile system, as the Prime Minister. “I don’t think anyone can credibly argue there i... Continue to article

Brooks Newmark said the Conservatives had been calling for “better regulation”, not further deregulation of the financial sector before the 2008 crash, and said today’s HBOS report showed the failure of the current Labour leadership. “We... Continue to article

David Cameron said George Osborne had been “absolutely right” to question whether the welfare system should support people like Mick Philpott, who was convicted for manslaughter after six of his children died in a house fire. “I think wh... Continue to article